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Getting in the zone: a zen approach
Phil Jackson, the Hall-of-Fame coach who has won more NBA championships than any coach in history is a big believer in a zen approach to the game.
If you've followed him over his career, or read anything about his approach, you know that his approach to the game is very different than most other coaches. And while it's different, it would be hard to argue with his success.
So what are some of the key elements of a zen approach to the game of basketball? And how can these help your game, help you play at a high level, and help you get in the zone?
The following are some important lessons to be learned from a zen approach to the game:
Be relaxed
Being relaxed is a key to performing well, no matter what sport you play. Tension and worry cause you to be tense (physically) and overthink (mentally). If you've prepared well, and put in the time and effort to practice and train, you should make sure that you're relaxed when you take the court.
What are some ways to relax? Tell yourself you're prepared. Do some deep breathing exercises. Go through a routine that you've developed to prepare yourself for a game. If you're tense, you're not going to play at your best. If you're relaxed and focused, you give yourself the best chance at playing to your potential.
Be in the now
A key to playing at the top of your game is to play in the “now”. What does this mean? Simply that you play each moment for that moment, not letting what has happened in the past, or what might happen in the future affect the moment.
Why is this so important? What happened in the past is over. What may happen in the future (2, 5, or 10 minutes down the road) is in the future, and you can’t do anything about those things now. So the game really comes down simply to playing each play for that play.
Center yourself
Centering yourself really means playing within yourself. It’s about being comfortable in your own skin, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and playing within those boundaries.
If you are a good shooter from 22 feet, it means not taking 28 footers. If you're a center that doesn't have good dribbling skills, don't try to dribble up the court on a fast break and make a no-look pass to a teammate.
Centering yourself, or playing within yourself means knowing what you're good at, playing within your game, and then working as hard as possible to play the best game you can.
Taking a zen approach to the game is one of the key ways you can help yourself play at top of your game, and put yourself in a position to get in the zone.
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